Ayers Scholars Program Setting the Pace in Tennessee’s Increased College-Going Rate

10/20/2026

Leaders from the Ayers Foundation Trust and its nationally-recognized Ayers Scholars Program joined other state leaders and partners in congratulating the State of Tennessee and the Class of 2025 on a 2.5 percent increase in the number of public high school graduates enrolling in postsecondary education.

The Tennessee Higher Education Commission (THEC) announced that 56.1 percent of the Class of 2025 enrolled in college, up slightly from 56.0 percent recorded for the Class of 2024. Although the rate remained relatively steady, the state’s graduating class was the largest in more than a decade. A total of 37,518 public high school graduates enrolled in postsecondary education, the highest number since before the COVID-19 pandemic.

But an analysis of the information released by THEC this morning reveals the very important role the Ayers Foundation Trust continues to play in the state’s overall progress.

Leading the way for the state, Ayers Scholars counties include Decatur County, ranked second in the state’s overall college-going rate at 72.9 percent, and Wayne County, ranked second in college-going growth with a 13 percent increase in just one year.

In fact, five of the state’s top 10 counties in overall college-going rate (Decatur, Henderson, Hardin, Unicoi and Perry) and five of the top 10 in one-year college-going growth (Wayne, Scott, Bledsoe, Union and Houston) are served by the Ayers Scholars Program.

The first high schools to implement the Ayers Scholars Program (Ayers Legacy Schools) recorded a 68 percent college-going rate for the Class of 2025, nearly 12 percentage points above the state average. Across all 21 of the state’s most economically at-risk and distressed counties served by the Ayers Scholars Program, the college-going rate was also above the state average at 58.1 percent. Lewis County’s college-going rate would have been approximately 70 percent with virtual schools excluded from the data, in which case it would have the third-highest college-going rate in the state.

“Every student deserves the opportunity to pursue education and training beyond high school, and those opportunities are essential to the future of our state’s workforce and economy,” said Janet Ayers, President of the Ayers Foundation Trust. “We’re proud of the role our Ayers Scholars Program plays in helping students across rural Tennessee prepare for what comes next, but we cannot afford to rest on our laurels until every student has the opportunity to gain the skills they need for a thriving job and rewarding career.”

Founded in 1999 in a single high school, the Ayers Scholars Program now serves students in 41 high schools and five community colleges across 29 rural Tennessee counties in all three grand divisions of the state. By providing schools with full-time, trained advisors, counselors are able to give students the guidance and support they need, from 8th grade through college or another postsecondary path.

“We’re grateful to Governor Lee, the General Assembly and the Governor’s Rural Education Foundation for the investments they’ve made in expanding opportunities for students in rural Tennessee,” said Dr. Burton Williams, Chief Executive Officer of the Ayers Foundation Trust. “We’re encouraged to see students taking the right next step after high school and we are proud to be part of that progress.”

For more information about the Ayers Scholars Program and the many programs of the Ayers Foundation Trust, please visit AyersFoundationTrust.org.

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